On the first day of Google's I/O developer conference, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Android is now on 2 billion devices. Here are some highlights from the conference. Android O beta released Google released the public beta for the next iteration of its Android operating system, 'O'. Some improvements include "Notification Dots," which allow users to preview messages from apps without opening the apps themselves; O is also optimised for better battery life and improvements in security and performance. It also has new options when selecting text, like a Maps option for when users select addresses. https://twitter.com/Google/status/864908834917289987 Android Go for entry-level smartphones The tech giant announced Android Go, a barebones version of the Android operating system for cheaper smartphones. The multilingual OS will run essential Google apps optimised for slow connections and low storage. These apps include YouTube Go, a version of the YouTube app that allows users to download videos to watch later, and also lets them choose the video bitrate before playing. Android Go apps are optimised to work well offline too. This OS variant will be particularly useful for Google to penetrate low-income smartphone markets like India, where feature phones are still common -- as the Indian market transitions completely away from feature phones to smartphones, Android Go may provide a useful and inexpensive stepping stone. Google Assistant is now on the iPhone Google's Assistant service is now available on the iPhone, a major milestone for the platform. Google Assistant is a competitor to Apple's Siri assistant,…
